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A jubilant Henrik Lundqvist acknowledges MSG after shutting out the Caps in Game 6.
Getty Images/Kathy Willens |
At some point, you knew our goalie had to deliver a big performance. He isn’t the best in the sport for nothing. Henrik Lundqvist stood tall, stopped all 27 shots en route to his first shutout of the series. He made Derick Brassard’s second period goal stand up as the Rangers edged the Caps 1-0 to take Game Six- forcing Game Seven Monday night in D.C.
Lundqvist made 12 saves in a frantic third to pitch his sixth career postseason shutout. The Rangers needed every single one to give a pumped up MSG what they wanted on Mother’s Day. A hard fought battle which saw them do some of their best forechecking of the first round series. They also helped Hank out defensively by getting sticks in lanes and breaking up plays. Our Blueshirts back checked efficiently and didn’t take a penalty until a dust up at the final buzzer. The Caps never got one power play. The Rangers had five but predictably couldn’t cash in.
All it took was an odd Brassard shot that snuck past Braden Holtby to take it to seven. For a second straight year, the Rangers and Caps will go the distance. They also went seven in ’09. Washington came back from a 3-1 deficit four years ago. The Rangers prevailed in a seesaw affair in ’12. Now, someone will be the hero. Only one will advance. There’s no rest for the weary. The deciding game is tomorrow at 8 PM.
”We needed it. There was desperation out there,” an appreciative Lundqvist said of his team’s yeoman effort to force a seventh game. ”We showed a lot of character and worked really hard. It was that type of game where you pay the price – big saves, physical. Great win.”
The Rangers did it by winning more battles. They controlled most of the play until the third when Washington finally woke up. It wasn’t one-sided. The Rangers still got seven shots on Holtby, who aside from Brassard’s tally which originally was credited to Rick Nash, was sharp making 28 saves. He was busy in a first period that featured three penalties on the Caps. That included an Eric Fehr elbow to Brassard, giving our team a two-man advantage. In typical Ranger fashion, they didn’t get anything done. Despite out-shooting Washington 12-8, they went into the locker room scoreless.
There were no penalties in the second, which was more entertaining. There weren’t many whistles and each team searched for that elusive goal to take the lead. It finally came thanks to some hustle from
Mats Zuccarello. He kept a play alive getting the puck to
John Moore. Eventually, Moore pased for Brassard. Encouraged by the fans to shoot, he finally did and it took a good bounce through traffic to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead at 9:39 of the second. It was his second and team leading seventh point of the series. Where would they be without Brass? He came over from Columbus with Moore and
Derek Dorsett for
Marian Gaborik, who ironically
gave his former team some love in a tweet.
”We are just going to have the same mentality we had coming into this game,” Brassard said. ”We just played our game, had fun. The guys were relaxed, and that’s what we need to do (Monday).”
”There are a lot emotions. You can expect scrums and things like that,” Dorsett pointed out after drawing two penalties and playing a spunky game in 12 minutes. ”You’ve got to play your game. You can’t just go out and think you’re going to scrum it up and win the game.”
They threw hits with none more resounding than Mike Del Zotto’s on Mathieu Perreault early that got the crowd going. Del Zotto has received plenty of deserved criticism but he didn’t let it affect him, playing a physical game with a team best five hits. The Rangers out-hit the Caps 33-28. Another key aspect was their success on faceoffs. They went 27-for-45, allowing them to have more puck possession. Such an important area when you face a dangerous opponent.
The Caps still got their chances with Lundqvist stifling Alex Ovechkin twice. That included a tricky lacrosse try where the Washington captain batted a backhand out of mid-air with under a minute left and Holtby on the bench. He made the money stops to prevent Ovechkin from scoring. He doesn’t have a goal in five consecutive games and is without a point in four straight. The longest stretch of the season.
”Especially late in the game, he made some great saves,” John Tortorella said. ”Last year, and now he has another Game 7, I think that builds. The ultimate goal for Hank in his mind is to win the Stanley Cup, but you need to go through these types of situations to get there.”
In order for them to win, the Rangers have to do it on the road. The home team has won all six games. Their recent playoff history at Verizon Center isn’t good with only Gaborik’s triple overtime Game Three winner the only success story.
”They play really well at home and they’re confident,” Lundqvist said. ”The games we’ve played in that building, special teams have played a big part. We played a really disciplined game, and that’s going to be key for us because they have a really good power play, so you have to respect that.”Play hard, but play smart.”
In franchise history, the Rangers have never won Game Seven away from MSG. They’re 0-5 all-time. They’ll look to alter history Monday.
NY Puck 3 Stars:
3rd Star-Mats Zuccarello, NYR (assist, 2 SOG, 2 hits, +1 in 20:55-does so many things well)
2nd Star-Derick Brassard, NYR (2nd of series-game-winner, 8-for-14 on draws, +1 in 19:48)
1st Star-Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (27 save shutout-1st of series-6th career postseason)
Notes: Chris Kreider replaced injured Ryane Clowe, receiving five shifts (4:05). He had two hits. … When the game was over, Derek Stepan mixed it up with John Carlson while Dan Girardi went at it with Troy Brouwer. … Stepan led the Rangers on draws finishing 11-for-16. … The Caps held a slight edge with 19 blocked shots to the Rangers’ 17. Steve Olesky had five and Anton Stralman four.
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